A new vision for the Denver Sluice Complex
Public event to be held on Thursday 19 March.
Local people are invited to an event to find out more about plans to improve the Denver Complex as a visitor destination.
An exhibition will be held in the Environment Agency office at the Denver Complex on Thursday 19 March. Members of the public are invited to drop in between 2pm and 7pm to hear about proposals to improve the site for visitors.
Denver Sluice is a significant flood risk management structure which has protected the people of the Fens and their property from flooding for 5 centuries. It is also now important for navigation and has a role supplying water to 3 public water supply reservoirs in Essex.
The study and development of proposals is being led by Richard Glen Associates, who have been working with partners to come up with ideas for how the site could be improved for visitors. The plan will also identify various ways of increasing the awareness and understanding of flood risk and the wider environment.
Ian Bliss, Waterways Partnerships Manager for the Environment Agency, said:
We would like to encourage as many people as possible to come along to hear about the ideas to improve the Denver Complex for visitors; we will be on hand to answer any questions and are keen to get views and ideas to help develop the proposals
Ideas that have been put forward so far include: creating a visitor centre, using Denver as base for a variety of water sports, improving moorings and facilities for boaters, creating new wetland habitat and creating better walking, cycling and riding trails. The study will also look at the issue of increased traffic to the Complex by considering more sustainable forms of transport such as a water taxi link with Downham Market Station and a revised bus route.
The Environment Agency manages the site and is a partner in the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership (OWLP) which is a Heritage Lottery Fund project managed by Cambridgeshire ACRE. The Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership involves working with a wide range of partners to promote the Ouse Washes landscape as a destination while maintaining the uniqueness of this valuable, wildlife rich, working landscape and its cultural heritage.
You can find out more about the event and project at the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership Website